Amidst the looming specter of climate change, political parties such as BJP and Congress are acknowledging the severity of the crisis and integrating it into their manifestoes as a commitment to addressing it through policy action and international cooperation. However, experts are not impressed.
They caution that while these commitments are a step in the right direction, they may fall short of meaningful action if not accompanied by concrete and substantive measures.
The BJP, which released its 69-page election manifesto recently, has dedicated three pages to environment and climate issues under the section Modi Ki Guarantee for Sustainable Bharat , coming a long way from just a paragraph on environment in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections.
The word climate change did not even figure in the 1999 and 2004 manifestos of the BJP, currently the world’s largest political party. The Congress has allotted two pages for environment, climate, disaster management, and water and sanitation-related issues in its 2024 election manifesto.
A review of its previous Lok Sabha election manifestos shows a strong emphasis on climate change and environmental sustainability issues.
A 2022 study by the Centre for Policy Research noted that the Congress has consistently emphasized climate change and environmental sustainability over the last three elections and has discussed specific steps for environmental protection, like green budgeting and the creation of an independent authority to work on it.
According to the study, while the BJP dedicates about 11 per cent of its manifesto to environmental issues, left-leaning parties generally highlight water conservation, dedicating around 12 per cent of their content to environmental protection and sustainability.
Key commitments in the BJP’s latest manifesto include achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, transitioning to non-fossil fuel energy sources, improving river health, achieving national air quality standards in 60 cities, expanding tree cover, and boosting disaster resilience.
The Congress has proposed setting up a fund for a green transition and achieving the net-zero goal.
However, critics highlight that some promises made in these manifestos might be symbolic rather than substantive.
“There have been several cases where the government’s approach to issues like forest and wildlife conservation, where policies and actions may not align with the stated commitments to address climate change. For instance, while there may be pledges to protect forests and wildlife habitats in manifestos, actual policies or actions may prioritize economic interests over environmental conservation,” said a climate change expert.
